Both the Army and Air National Guard say they are making inroads toward gaining a foothold for their state-based forces in the Defense Department's growing mission sets in cyberspace. Both services say they are training more personnel and building the guard's credibility within the Pentagon when it comes to cyber missions.

Amid debates about the proper size of the active military versus the reserve component, the National Guard's chief warned his force will lose its best talent if it's not given opportunities to engage in the guard's federal mission.